 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-11-28 02:35
Hi,
I know next to nothing about working on oboe reeds. I do have a knife. What I'd like to be able to do is to know how to work on reeds if they're too flat, too sharp, too stuffy, etc.
Can someone recommend an online primer (video or otherwise)? Thanks.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-11-28 04:52
It is SO TOUGH to get those fine adjustments on any kind of film/video.
Diagrams work better.
Try the ASU home page, they have great oboe reed making resources, and there are other free sites.
If you have a good reed-maker teacher available, I'd say there's nothing like the one-on-one. And make notes on your own experience as you work with reeds and cane, too.
GoodWinds
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Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2011-11-28 05:20
I think trying to learn to make/adjust reeds off a video is sort of like watching a youtube video to learn how to fly an airplane.
I have purchased a few videos to see if people had any "tricks" or golden nuggets of information, but by and large they did nothing but reinforce what I already know.
The oboe reed making dvd by Linda Walsh was EXTREMELY well done, and while it really focuses on the short scrape reeds, it was really cool to hear all the interviews with various oboists on reeds. I wish this kind of thing would be on the history channel...
Sorry to disappoint, but I think you're just going to have to find a teacher.
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2011-11-28 09:11
Here's a good detailed video showing blend (triangle corner) scraping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAcgeN2wIu0
To make a reed easier to play you can try scraping the triangle corner areas this person is scraping at the 20second mark. Soak a reed, scrape a few times on all the corners and play test the result.
Play with old reeds and see how it works for you to bring in more life if they're dull.
I haven't seen any good heart area oboe video's, but if the heart and rails of the heart are too thick that could really choke your sound. Scraping the outer edges of the heart and/or thinning the rails could help. The problem with the heart is you can easily make your oboe reed... ducky. Don't scrape the rails off and avoid the center of the heart (unless it really is crazy thick).
There is also a sort of balance between the blend and heart where they interact, by making one softer than the other the reed could get worse, so if blend adjusting does not improve response, heart adjusting can help, but if you go too far on the heart and it gets worse, adjusting more blend may bring the reed back into balance.
As far as pitch goes... the side effect of heart adjustment is slightly lowering pitch, but when a reed is really too sharp you can't really do much other than pulling out the reed in the oboe (a no no).
To make a flat reed sharp you can shorten the reed by clipping the tip.
Reeds may be too open (flat) or closed (sharp) which affect pitch. Open reeds will close with playing and you can gently pitch them to help. Closed reeds could possibly open a bit with blend/heart adjustment.
You can also use brute force by taking pliers and squeezing the tube (with mandrel in place) to open or close the reed. I don't go there, my teacher does, but I think it makes my reeds too wonky.
♫ Stephen K.
Post Edited (2011-11-28 09:14)
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-11-28 12:11
Thanks, everybody!
I do agree that watching a video is not the best way. And I appreciate all the helpful tips. You've got me started on a good path!
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